Electric-arc lamp



` (NQ Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. H. MATHBR.-

ELECTRIC ARG LAMP.

Patented Nom28,` 18.82.

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(No Mndel.) 2 Sheets-#Sheet 2.

R. H. MATHER.

ELECTRIC ARG LAMP.

110,268,254. Patented Nov. 28. 18822-` Wzbz @.55 es;

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UNITED STATns PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD H. MATHE t, OF VINDSOR, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRlC-ARC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,254, dated November 28, 1882, Application tiled July 28,1881. (Xo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD H. Martina, ot' Windsor, in the county ot' Hartford and State ofConuecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric-Arc Lamps, ot' which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where- Figure l is a front view of my improved lamp. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section on a plane passing through the centers ofthe side frame. Fig. 3 is a view of a portion ol' thc upper part of my improved lamp with a portion cut away. Fig. 4l is a top view ot' the same with cover and plate removed. Fig. 5 is a tcp view ofthe box and upper plate, shown ing details from a plane cutting the upper rod on plane w x. Fig. 6`is a view in vertical section through the box and shunt-magnet on a plane at right angles to that ot' Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a top view ot' the box below the plane y 'y ot Fig. 6, and it shows the method ot` connecting one terminal ot' the switch-magnet, one terminal of the shunt-magnet, and the wire from the positive pole of the battery with the post which passes through and is in contact with the frame of the lamp. The bottom ol' the spool is cut away at the left side ci" this view to show that the other post fast to the bottom ofthe spool is insulated by an air-space Jfrom the frame. y

I am aware that electric lamps have been used in which the feed motion ot' the carbons has been etlected, but this has been done in most cases by means oi a costly system ot' regulating mechanism ot`clock-work or similar devices.

My improvement in this part of the lamp consists ot" a simple device for attaining the desired result, andsecures a perfect and roliable lamp and practically steady light.. I make use'of a spring-clamp which supports the upper carbon and releases it automatically as the carbon is consumed. The clamp has appurtenant to it the armature ot' a shunt and of a switch magnet.

'Another improvement consists in avoiding the many parts and the laborious method ot' fastening` these parts by rods and nuts ot' the ordinaryform of lamp, and in casting the frame of my lamp of suitable metal, as iron, in but two parts, which are easily and cheaply assembled.

In the accompanying drawings, thc letter a denotes the cover or upper part oi' the lampt'rame, and b the lower part, having a portion extending` upward and t'orming the hollow cylindrical core c of a shunt-magnet, and a box, a', to contain the shunt and also aswitch magnot.

A spool of any insulating` material, as wood, is wound with a coilofinsulated tine wire, the whole arranged to tit into the box a about the core and forming the shunt-magnet d.

The lower carbon, c, is held in a split tube,

j', which is inserted from below the frame a through a suitable opening, and is held in place by a thumb-screw or similar device. The upper carbon, g, is held by a rod, 71., which passes through the center of the cylindrical core, c, through the annular armature t, through the sprin gclam p Z, and the slcevej, and terminates at its top with a button or projecting rim, 7L.

lVithin the box a', and upon the insulated base ofthe shunt-magnet d,is placed a switchmagnet, df, formed of a core ot sot't-iron wound with large copper wire.

A plate, m, of metal, is placed upon the rim of box c', and is insulated from it by a washer, a, oi" suitable material, as paper. The plate m is secured to the rim by screws m', which pass through insulating-washers ot' suitable material, as ivory or bone.

Fastened at one end to the plate m, and rising above it at the other end, is a spring-clamp, Z, having in it a hole slightly larger in diameter than the rod h, which passes through it. ln this aised and normal position of the springclamp the rod 7L is clamped by it and held in a ixed position.

Two thin strips ol metal (brushes p y) are fastened to the upper surface ot' the plate m, (see Figs. 3, 5, 6,) and in such manner as to reach through openings in sleeve j, (see Figs. 3, 6,) and rest lightly against rod h., securing good connection between rod h and the plate m, which plate is connected with one pole of the battery (in this case the negative) by means of a wire attached to that pole and to post o, appartenant to said plate.

The annular armature t' is secured to the under side ofthe springclamp immediately over ioc the shunt-magnet core, and it forms, also, by means ot' projection if, the armature ot' the switch-magnet d.

A post, p', passes through the frame d, in contact with it, and is secured to the wooden base of the shunt-magnet d. IVith this post are connected the wire from the positive pole of the battery, one terminal, ze, of the sh unt-magnet, and one terminal ot` the switchmagnet, as seen in Fig. 7.

A post, i', passes through the frame a, insulated from it, as shown in Fig. 2, and is secured to the base ot' the shunt-magnet. lires from the negative pole of the battery, Afrom posto, and the other end of the wire of the shunt-magnet are connected with this post.

rlhe operation of my device is as follows: A currentot'electricityt'rom a suitable sourceas a battery or a dynamo-electric machine, in which the whole current is passed through the external work-is passed into the lamp at any part, as post p, and as the carbons are not in contact through the coil of the shunt-magnet d, this current magnetizes the core c very strongly, and draws down the armature i and the appartenant spring-clamp Z, and allows the rod lr and the upper carbon to slip down by the action ot' gravity and make contact between the upper and lower carbous. The main portion ol1 the current at once passes through the cai-bons, and only a small portion of it through the coil of' the shunt-magnet, releasing the armature and spriug-clamp,which, springing up, causes the clamp to engage rod 71., lift it, and slightly separate the points of the carbons. llhecireuitthroughthecarbonsisnowtheshortest, the are is formed, and the points ofthe carhons become incandescent. In proportion as the .carbons are consumed, and the distance between the points widens the strength of current through the coil of the shunt-magnet is increased and the armature is drawn down, and with it rod h, until it is released from springclanip l and the rod and carbon fall. The carbon continues to fall until the current through the shunt-magnet is decreased by the shorteningofthe arc, the armature is released, and the clamp again holds the rod. If the carbon should fall too t'ar--that is, so as to strike the lower carbon-the recoil ot' the spring-clamp is suiicient to separate the cai-bons and form an arc ot' proper length.

l make provision tor the automatic extinction of any lampen a circuit by using a switchmagnet, placed as already described, and having one end ot' the coil attached to the frame ofthe lamp, as at posti?, and the other to the soft-iron core ot' the magnet. As soon as the upper carbon is nearly consumed the button h strikes the top ofthe loose sleeve j, which rests on the spring-clamp l'. The carbon now fails to feed when the armature is depressed, and the strength ot' the current through the shunt-magnet increases with the length of arc as the carbons are consumed, and the armature is pulled down until it brings its projectn ing portion i into contact with the core ol'I the switch-magnet. Instantly through the coil ol' the switch-magnet a new circuit is l'ormed, magnetizing the core andretaining the armature in its depressed position. At the, instant when the armature strikes the core ot' the switch-magnet there are three circuits open t'or the current-one th rough the cai-bons, a second through theshunt-inagnet,and a third through theswitch-magnet. The latter acts as a short circuit, and the light goes out without extinguishing any other lamp that may bc on the same circuit.

A switch of any ordinary form operated by hand is used on each lamp to connect the ends ofthe positive and negative wires and cnt the lamp to which it is al'lixeil out ot' the circuit.

rlhe cover o lits on the flanged rim ot' box uf, andissecuredtoitbyscrews. lnsertedtlnough an opening` in the cover a. and held in a raised position by a spring is a pin, s, which, when pushed down, strikes the spring-clamp l, and' by depressing it allows the rod h to t'all.

By holding down the spring-clamp by pressing down the pin or linger s he rod 7L ina-y be slipped up through the spring-clamp and anew carbon inserted without removing the cover oli the lamp.

I have used the term spring-clamp il as that best describes the perforated spring in which the edges ot' the annular perforation hind or clamp 'the rod and hold it suspended bythe sprino. rlfhis binding action begins at a point a short distance below the normal position ot' the spring when holding the rod. It is oi' the utmost importance to the perl'ect action of the device that these functions of spring support and clamp be joined in one part or piece, as herein shown and described, and this constitutes one of the main Al'eatures ol" my improvement.

I claim as my invenlionl. In combination, in an electric lamp, a frame, L, shunt-magnet d, switch-magnet d', rod h, having button It', or its equivalent, and sleeve j, whereby the spring-clamp automatically depressed, the rod released, and the lamp extinguished, all substantially as described,

2. In an electric lamp, the shunt-magnet core c and concentric walls ot box et', cast integralwith the lamp-frame b, in combination with the centrally-located carbon-holder/L and its feeding mechanism, all substantially as de scribed.

3. In an electric lamp, the shunt-magnet core c, cast integral with the lamp-trame e, in combination with the centrally and vertically reciprocating carbon-holder, rod l1., armature t', shunt-magnet (l, switch -magnet d", springclamp l, and electrodes, all substantially as described.

In an electric lamp, the combination ol' frame b, shunt-magnet d, switch-magnet d', armature ti, spring-clamp Z, sleevej, rod 7i., with butt-on 71.', brushes p, holderf, and carbons l(r/ IOO IIE,

and c, connected with and operated by a singie or main battery, all substautiallyas described.

5. In an electric lamp, the combination of frame b, shunt-magnet d, armature fi, springclamp Z, rod l1., holderf, and carbonsg and c, all substantially as described.

6. In an electric lamp, a feeding device consisting of a carbon-supporting; spring-clamp operated by a shunt-magnet and the recoil of the spring, in combination with an automaticr and autoniaiic extinguishing' device, all substantially as described.

9. In an electric lamp, the combination of spring-clamp l, shunt-magnet d, armature i i', switch-magnet d, and rod Il, all substantially as described.

l0. In an electric lamp, in combination, a leaf-spring' secured at one end to the lamp and perforated at the other and raised end, whereby a clamp is formed, a carbon-supporting rod adapted to reciprocate vertically within the clamp, and a pin ornger retracted by a spring, all substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

1I. In an electric lamp, in combination, fraine b, covera, pin s, with supporting-spring, spri ngclainp I., and rod h, all substantially as described.

RICHARD H. WIATHER.

Witnesses:

G. L. BURDET'r, W. MARSH. 

